Before

"For God so loved the world that He gave . . ." Genuine acts of love are always spontaneous and focused on the needs of others. Before God created the world and time itself, He loved you. "Chosen before the foundation of the world."

Reflections on the Future

You are in the grasp of inescapable love. God has wrapped you in His arms and will never let you go--not even for one second of eternity. And that, by the way, includes this moment.
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He does not just hold your future in His hands. He makes all things beautiful.
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No one loves my children as deeply as He does.
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The greatest in the kingdom are those who serve, those who forgive, and those who do so without the slightest interest in being acknowledged. Minister is a title of humble servanthood. And we are all called to be ministers all day long.

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Life is miserable when we are always trying to escape our past and live in our future. "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
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Death is not defeat but victory. Not loss but gain. Not the end of life, but its fulfillment. "Your life is hid in Christ." "For to me, to live is Christ. And to die, gain."
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 If you find the "yoke" unbearable, exhausting, the reason is simple. You are trying to bear it in your own strength and wisdom. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me . . . and you will find rest for your souls."
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 You have a righteous Advocate to defend you before the Father every time you sin. And His righteousness is your defense--not your own. You have escaped condemnation. God will not listen to any accusation made against you.

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 The only eschatology that truly matters is are you one of those who will love His appearing. How do you become "one of those" disciples? "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

Day by Day

Every moment of this day His loving gaze was on you.
Each step you took, He walked by your side.
Every prayerful thought you had, He heard--and cherished.
Every need He provided with a Father's joy.
Every tear, He wept.
Every laugh, He laughed.
Every sin, He marked "Forgiven." And "Forgotten."
Every tomorrow, He has lavished with His love and rested on His wisdom..
All you cast on Him, He gladly bore--omnipotently.
All your silent stillness, He filled with His voice.
All your loving obedience caused His heart to whisper "Thank you, child."
Into this day's darkness, He sent His light.
As you labored, He gave strength--His strength.

You are His child. Born again into His family. Adopted into His family. Eternally secure in His family. A room in His house awaits you when your last day is complete and His will for you fulfilled.

'Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here; trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best, lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest."

"Every day the Lord Himself is near me, with a special mercy for each hour; all my cares He fain would hear and cheer me, He's whose name is Counselor and Power. The protection of His child and treasure, is a charge that on Himself He laid; 'As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,' this the pledge to me He made."

"Child and treasure" That's you. Every day.

"He whose heart is kind beyond all measure." That's Him--your Father. Every day.

Being Conformed or Being Transformed?

Paul's definition of what a transformed life looks like and what a renewed mind focuses on:

In humility does not think of himself too highly.
Understands that he is a part of the body; it is the good of the body that matters not his personal acclaim or comfort.
Uses his gifts diligently, cheerfully, by faith.
Loves others spontaneously, genuinely, without hypocrisy.
Abhors evil; loves good.
Devoted to the honoring of other believers.
Fervently serving others because he understands that in doing so he is actually serving his Lord.
Rejoicing in hope.
Persevering in tribulation
Devoted to prayer.
Pursing opportunities to help other Christians.
Pursuing opportunities to show hospitality to strangers.
Blessing others at every opportunity.
Empathetic toward his fellow Christians. Sharing their joys and sorrows as his own.
Impartial in his treatment of others. Plays no favorites.
Peaceable toward all men.
Overcoming evil with good.
In prayerful subjection to those in authority. Honoring them as God's ordained choice.
Loving his neighbor as himself. Doing no wrong to a neighbor.
Living as if today is the day of His coming
Living pure, righteous lives, being a light in the darkness.

Being transformed into the likeness of Christ.
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What does conformity to the world look like?

Proud.
Wants preeminence in the church.
Uses his spiritual gifts for his own glory and in his own strength.
Hypocritical in his love toward others. Pretends to love them knowing that it's expected.
Loves evil; abhors good.
Seeks honor for himself.
Serves his own needs. Serves other reluctantly.
Joyless.
Grumbles and complains in trials.
No time for prayer. Certainly not for others.
Could care less about anyone's needs but his own.
Never reaches out to "strangers" who come to church.
Curses under his breath all those who irritate him.
Plays favorites, especially if it will do him good.
Combative. Contentious. Toward Christian and unbeliever alike.
Vengeful. Never forgiving. Holds a grudge fervently.
Could care less about his neighbor. Would harm him in a minute in order to help himself.
Hates those in authority. Wouldn't dream of praying for them--just about them.
Hopes Christ doesn't return too soon; he's got things he wants to do.
Lives a life pursuing the same things the world pursues. Applauds evil.

Being conformed, molded, into the image of the world system, the system that is anti-Christ.
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Being transformed or conformed? Your choice reveals what your real attitude is toward the sacrificial, love the Savior demonstrated for you on the cross. How deeply, thankfully, do you cherish that love? How deeply do you love your Savior?

Or are you the love of your life?

The Danger of Prosperity

The great danger of prosperity is always the same--for individuals, ministries, and even nations. Prosperity replaces confidence in God-reliance with confidence in self-reliance. I can stand on my own two feet is a poor substitute for falling on one's knees before the throne of the God of grace. And prosperous, self-reliance seems to have a curious side-effect: the more I have, the more protective I become of it--the more I worry about losing it, let alone even imagining "letting go" of it to help others in need.

A Plea

In a familiar passage in Romans 12, Paul pleads with believers to give themselves as a sacrifice to God. Such a response, he argues, is the only logical one for a Christian to make if he or she just reflects for a moment on all God has done for them through Christ--regeneration, redemption, justification, abundant grace and mercy, reconciliation, atonement as our propitiation--the bearer of God's wrath that we deserve, sanctification. As we mediate and rejoice in all that has been freely given us, Paul can't imagine any other choice but then to, as an act of worship, daily give our lives as a living sacrifice to such a loving God. The ultimate sacrifice is, after all, to live for Him daily.
Yet, as logical and reasonable and urgent as such a choice should be, it is still a battle. The world is constantly trying to lure us into embracing their view of things, which could, probably, be summed up in one word: selfishness. Oh, the world doesn't mind if we dabble around with religiosity--that can be quite self-affirming as well as drawing applause from men. Christian service can be quite selfish if done from a prideful heart bent on gaining external acceptance and "popularity" among our friends. And the "best of both worlds" is appealing as well. To claim the cross of Christ, while living a life as nearly identical to the world's pursuits as possible is quite attractive to our natural tendency to love ourselves more than anyone else. We are quite proficient at willingly being saltless salt and hidden lights. Experts. The war for our minds is on-going, constant, intense. Conform? Be transformed? Do I choose to run my life in order to please me. And pleasing men and having their approval always pleases me. Or do I sacrifice--and if it's not total submission, it's not a sacrifice--control of my life to His Spirit? Do I "deny myself" daily and follow Him, "destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God" my Creator Redeemer? Do I take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?" And what was His obedience? "I do always those things that please Him"--the Father.
It comes down to the basics as always, does it not? Pride or humility. If I truly understand who I am and how inexpressible is the love He willing gave me, the sacrifice He made on my behalf a hopeless sinner and a hostile enemy toward His will on earth, I will readily humble myself before Him--amazed that He even wants to use me to touch the lives of others in His name as unobtrusively as possible. Yes, living righteous lives under the control of the Spirit will not endear you to the world. They will hate you. In countries where they can imprison and kill believers, they do. In this country you will be mocked, laughed at, scorned--sometimes vitriolically. Sometimes by other believers. But how can one deeply mediate on His great love and not choose to give himself totally to Him day by day--"a living sacrifice"?
The consequences of that choice? You will discover that God's plan for your life is infinitely good; you will find yourself maturing into His likeness--the Perfect Servant; you will be "well-pleasing" to Him. And one day--beyond all human comprehension--the omnipotent God of love will take you in His embrace and say, "Thank you for letting me use you in my place to love the world I died for. Well-done good and faithful servant!" Unimaginable mercy and grace.
The Spirit through the pen of Paul pleads: "With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him."

Success

Born to really old parents; probably orphaned at a young age. Lived alone in the desert eating grasshoppers dipped in honey. Poor. His wardrobe was a joke. Made lots of enemies. At the height of his influence, many of his followers left him to follow this other Guy. (He actually encouraged them to leave him!--Never get ahead that way!) Very "untactfully" told the king he was living in sin. Got thrown in jail. Had moments of doubt about his calling. Had he done the right thing? Executed. Not exactly a rousing success?? One of the greatest men who ever lived. God says so. Who are you trying to impress and how?